While the electric cars market recorded a significant growth with a market share of 10% in 2022 and 16% in 2023, the numbers of electric two-wheeled vehicles are significantly smaller.
In 2022, electric motorcycles and scooters accounted for less than 2% out of 21,000 two-wheelers sold. In 2023, a portion of the market for vehicles from Gogoro, Zero, Blitz, and NIU is expected to rise to 4%.
This image will be attempted to be changed by a new-old importer in the field of two-wheeled vehicles, known as XI Mobility from the Cristelino group, which has so far focused on the field of scooters and electric bicycles, and is now venturing into the field of electric scooters and motorcycles with no less than four Chinese electric two-wheeler brands.
At the core of the importer's move is to set up a display hall with the concept of a single place for a large number of micro-transportation solutions. From scooters to electric motorcycles, and in between, stylish scooters designed for the private and institutional market.
At this point in the importer's display hall, four brands can be found: Doohan, Tromox, Supr Socco, and Silence, which in some cases appear similar, not surprisingly, to known vehicles from Vespa, Honda, and more. All vehicles, even the fast ones reaching 100 km/h, are limited in their use to urban or suburban short-range driving.
All electric vehicles are defined as those that match the lowest license class - A2, parallel to 125 cc scooters, allowing significantly lower maintenance costs compared to gasoline vehicles in the form of a refueling cost between NIS 3 to 5, license and insurance for 50 cc vehicles, average maintenance cost of about NIS 250 at intervals of half a year or 5,000 km, can be obtained at the customer's home for an additional fee. Warranty? Two years or 24,000 km for scooters, 30,000 km and three years for the battery.
The price range starts at NIS 17,000 for the doohan URANUS, a retro-classic scooter resembling a Vespa that offers a range of up to 100 km per charge using its two batteries and a modest top speed of up to 80 km/h. Another model from the manufacturer is the iTank, a three-wheeled scooter that reduces the range to 70 km and top speed to 75 km/h. Price: NIS 20,000. Both vehicles have removable batteries that can be charged within three hours.
For the commercial sector of the delivery industry - the prominent customers of electric vehicles at the moment - the importer offers the Super Soco VS1, offered in a "cargo" configuration with preparation for front and rear carriers, the option to ride with one or two batteries, a maximum range of 140 km, and a top speed of 80 km/h.
Another vehicle from the company is the CPX, aimed at the upscale urban scooter market, also known as "executive scooters". The vehicle is equipped with a built-in alarm, reverse button, keyless start, and more. The range is 140 km and the maximum speed is 90 km/h. The battery is also removable, with a charging time of 3.5 hours. Price: NIS 21,000.
For those who want their electricity in the form of a motorcycle, Super Soco offers the TC-MAX in a sleek design reminiscent of Honda's "cafe" motorcycles - here the performance is a range of up to 120 km and a maximum speed of 100 km/h. The price starts at NIS 29,000.
One of the flagship brands of the importer are the electric scooters from Silence, a Spanish company that produces the two-wheeled electric vehicles for its parent brand, Mo, owned by the car manufacturer Seat.
The brand's models, three in number, use the same base in different versions. The S01 with a remarkable range of 135 km and a maximum speed of 100 km/h, and the S01+ with the same range and a more powerful engine that allows for a maximum speed of 115 km/h. The third version is the S02, designed for deliveries with an exceptional load capacity of up to 330 kg without losing the declared range of 135 km. Prices start from NIS 25,000 for the delivery-oriented S02, NIS 28,000 for the S01, up to NIS 33,000 for the S01+.
A unique feature of the Silence is a removable battery installed on a trolley cart that facilitates its movement and the fact that it contains a built-in internal charger. According to the manufacturer, the battery can be used as a portable power source for operating electric tools.
Currently, the electric scooter market is still waiting for a breakthrough, one that will come when they come to the table with a proposal not only for lower maintenance costs, but also with a package of use for gasoline-powered tools and of course after years of their acceptance by the conservative and suspicious market, which has already seen obscure manufacturers come and go. The importer doesn't necessarily rely on riders converting their gasoline scooters to electric, but on what they see as an unrealized potential of tens of thousands of licensed two-wheeler owners who do not ride today for various reasons, including high maintenance costs.
However, those who may be tempted by the fourth model of the company named S04, an interesting clapperboard, will find that it does not come on two wheels but on four.
This is a tiny electric vehicle, two-seater. How tiny? 2.28 meters in length (less than the wheelbase of a mini car), 1.29 meters wide, and 1.59 meters high. This adds 41 centimeters to the wheelbase of the Smart Fortwo, which is longer by 51 centimeters.
These dimensions allow it a turning radius of 3.5 meters - slightly more than the average lane width.
According to the manufacturer, it promises European level quality, finish, and technology including LED lighting, a sound system with Bluetooth, and air conditioning.
Safety? It is better than a motorcycle, but you won't find airbags or automatic braking here. There is ABS, but this is a quadricycle licensed vehicle, and vehicles in this category that were tested in the European crash test received poor scores, even though they passed the test. Maybe the Silence will surprise.
The removable batteries ensure a range of 150 km and a maximum speed of 90 km/h. Like the company's motorcycles, the battery can be dismantled and carried on a trolley for home charging without a stand.
Because it is a small licensed vehicle, it is limited in the country to driving on urban roads, but enjoys a very low license fee, NIS 64.
The price of the S04, which may be the truly interesting news in terms of a completely new model of urban vehicle, will stand at around NIS 80,000. This will make it one of the cheapest electric vehicles in Israel, although it is not certain that it will truly be a competitor due to its limited capabilities that will mainly leave it as a modern successor in densely populated cities. Will this be a vehicle that will change the local perception regarding urban mobility on 4 wheels? We won't have to wait long, as according to Hyundai's statements, we will see it here already in the upcoming August.